10th Planet coach & ex-UFC fighter accused of sex abuse
A former MMA fighter, who once served time over a fatal road rage incident, has been charged with second-degree sex abuse in Oregon.
Gerald Strebendt, a UFC and Cage Warriors veteran, has been accused of sexually abusing one of his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu students according to The Oregonian. Strebendt, a former US Marine Corps sniper, has served time in jail for killing a man during a road rage incident.
The 39-year-old Strebendt competed at UFC 44 in 2003, losing to Josh Thomson via TKO. Since then he fought in various regional promotions in the US and UK. He ended his fighting career in 2008 with a record of 9-7.
Strebendt had reportedly been coaching at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu in Eugene, OR. Strebendt’s connection with the 10th Planet brand stretches back to at least the early 2000s. He was a student of Eddie Bravo and once trained with UFC commentator Joe Rogan (according to a tweet from Strebendt in 2016).
Used to train with @joerogan in garage long ago. Now I train with felons in a prison gym. Not much different! #mma pic.twitter.com/QGVf8ycJXX
— Gerald Strebendt (@StrebendtGerald) August 23, 2016
In 2014 Strebendt killed David Paul Crofut, 53, after the pair were involved in a traffic collision in Springfield, OR. Strebandt called 911 after the crash and was heard telling Crofut to back away. Some time during the altercation Strebrendt retrieved a loaded .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle from his vehicle, which he used to shoot Crofut. Crofut was later determined to have been legally drunk at the time of the incident.
Strebendt claimed self-defense, but he was charged with murder. In 2015 the murder charge was dismissed and Strebendt plead guilty to criminally negligent homicide. The guilty plea was met with a sentence of 58 months in prison, 36 months parole, mental health treatment, and the loss of rights to own a firearm.
Strebendt was released from prison last year. Yesterday he was booked into Lane County Jail in Eugene. He was charged with second-degree sex abuse. According to The Oregonian police believe Strebendt sexually abused a girl he was coaching. Police also told local news that Strebendt may have abused more underage girls.
Strebendt is presumed innocent of all charges until proven guilty.